Russia and China join forces for major naval exercise

Russian and Chinese warships began joint drills in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, part of a major naval exercise that President Putin said was the largest of its kind for three decades.

Russia's Ocean-2024 exercise will take place in the Pacific and Arctic as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas and is the first of its type "in the last three decades", Putin said in a televised address. He said the drills were aimed at testing the "combat readiness" of Russia's military leadership, without elaborating.

The drills will involve more than 400 warships, submarines and support vessels and last until 16 September, according to the Russian defence ministry.China sent four warships and a supply vessel to the exercise, joining Russia's naval fleet in the Sea of Japan, it said.